Monday, February 07, 2011

Do you see what I see?

I dropped the boys off at school and started home. I don't live far from the school. It takes just 5 minutes at most to get home. I was amazed at how inconsiderate some people can be.All along the way home I noticed trash on the side of the road. A can here. Paper tossed aside there. What kind of person does that? Who tosses their trash out of their car?Once I started noticing the litter, it was impossible not to see it. It was blown up under the roadside bushes or just left right beside the road. It was everywhere.I was disgusted and I couldn't shake feeling irritated.

. . . . . . .

I dropped the boys off at school and started home. I don't live far from the school. It takes just 5 minutes at most to get home.I was amazed at the beauty of the world I live in.All along the way home, I noticed God's creation. Birds flying in the sky. Trees artistically blowing in the wind.What a creative God we have! How can I go throughout my day and fail to appreciate nature?Once I started noticing the scenery, I could not go slow enough. I wanted to take it all in. God's creativity was everywhere.I was amazed and overwhelmingly thankful.

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The only thing different on these two drives was my focus.

I can have a positive or negative outlook. What I give my attention to makes a difference in my day...and in the way I interact with others. My focus makes a difference in my attitude...and in the way I view life.

"Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness." Luke 11:34

6 comments:

This is so like me. I have noticed the trash on the side of the road a hundred times. The kids have even noticed it and commented on needing to pick it up. But then on the same drive I will notice the beauty of the world that God created for us and my heart sings with joy.

Just so applicable. I do this with my kids. Constantly correcting and not appreciating the positive, creative, wonderful, helpful things they do nearly as much as the annoying, lazy, selfish and childish things. Yesterday I made a sticker chart and told them it was not for them to earn a reward or anything but to help retrain me to focus on the positive and I would give them stickers when I noticed them no matter how small. Combined with prayer to see the positive and be more encouraging, I hope to change my focus. Your descriptions of your different drives is a great illustration.